Captain's Log: We're Feeling On Track
From the BNZ Series website, 21/2/1999

Kia Ora everyone, Dion here.

The build-up to the first Test match of a Series is always a very focused time for us and this week's no exception. You always feel that little bit more tense, because you know the way you play and the result of the first Test can have such an influence on the course of the Series.

We've decided to stay together as a team this week instead of disbanding so that we can all focus on our preparation for the first Bank of New Zealand Test together. We'll be playing a two-day match against Auckland while the South Africans are down in Hamilton and the rest of the time it will be good to be able to just talk things over together and feel the strength of our team bond as we head towards Saturday.

This morning (Sunday) we all went for a swim at the Teps in Auckland after our win yesterday. Everyone's feeling good about being 2-1 up in the ODI Series and especially about the way we bounced back to a much better performance in the last game, but while it's nice to be on a high going into the Test Series, we're also very wary of false confidence. We know that Test match cricket is a different kettle of fish and we're still very mindful of what we're up against and of the hard work we have to do.

But our resolve is certainly there and the guys are feeling good about things. We know we're a lot tougher mentally than we used to be. We know now that every time we get in a spot of bother someone will put their hand up. A number of things have gone to plan and we know we can keep on fighting.

I think the results in the One-Dayers so far are an indication of how hard fought that Series will be when it resumes after the Tests. It's nice to have upped the ante there. Although our Test gameplan is a little different from the strategies we use in One-Dayers, we're looking to continue building momentum in our innings, the way we did at Eden Park on Saturday where we had several 50-run partnerships.

We know the Test pitch there will almost certainly take some turn and it will be important to just dig in and build those long, watchful partnerships. The slow wicket will suit our style of play.

So, other than practising and playing (and recovering from our "Backyard Test" against the Wadsworth family of Birkenhead today!) we're in for a quiet and thoughtful week. It will be a great relief I'm sure when Saturday finally rolls around and we can get stuck in to a month of Bank of New Zealand Test cricket.

We're all looking forward to our first chance to play the South Africans in a Test Series in our own country and very motivated to make the memories darn good ones.

Cheers for now,

Dion.

[Articles]